Deputy Principal's Report
Welcome back!
Dear Parents,
Welcome back to school, everyone! As we settle back into our routines, it's normal for our kids to experience some ups and downs. Despite the cold weather, the children have returned with a refreshed and bright attitude, ready to learn and grow.
Recently, there has been a lot of talk about the effects of diet and our body's ability to absorb and use vitamins and minerals to improve our general health and wellbeing. It has always been clear around this time of year that Vitamin C and Zinc help build our immunity and prevent us from getting sick during the flu season. We were curious to find studies showing the effect of several vitamins and minerals on concentration and learning. Many of you may already be all over this, but if you have a picky eater like I do, then you might want to explore this further.
Some of the key findings were the link between Vitamin A, B12, C, D, E, Iron, Magnesium, Omega-3, and Zinc deficiency can have significant impacts on a child's ability to concentrate and sustain focus on in class. Meaning they may struggle with retrieving, taking in and applying new learning.
This table highlights in more detail the importance of a balanced diet in supporting the cognitive and physical development of primary school-aged children.
| Vitamin/Mineral | Food Sources | Signs of Deficiency in Behaviour | Signs of Deficiency in Body | Impact on Learning |
| Vitamin A | Carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach | Irritability, fatigue | Dry skin, night blindness | Poor vision, reduced attention |
| Vitamin B12 | Meat, fish, dairy products, eggs | Mood swings, confusion | Anemia, weakness | Impaired memory, difficulty concentrating |
| Vitamin C | Citrus fruits, strawberries, bell peppers | Irritability, depression | Bleeding gums, slow wound healing | Reduced cognitive function |
| Vitamin D | Sunlight, fortified milk, fatty fish | Mood swings, tiredness | Rickets, bone pain | Poor bone health, lower energy levels |
| Vitamin E | Nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables | Irritability, lack of focus | Muscle weakness, vision problems | Cognitive impairment |
| Calcium | Dairy products, fortified plant milk | Hyperactivity, anxiety | Poor bone health, muscle cramps | Poor bone development, reduced physical activity |
| Iron | Red meat, beans, fortified cereals | Fatigue, poor concentration | Anemia, pale skin | Reduced attention span, impaired learning |
| Magnesium | Nuts, seeds, whole grains, leafy greens | Irritability, confusion | Muscle cramps, fatigue | Impaired cognitive function |
| Omega-3 Fatty Acids | Fish, flaxseeds, walnuts | Mood swings, hyperactivity | Dry skin, poor immunity | Improved learning, better concentration |
| Zinc | Meat, shellfish, legumes | Lack of alertness, mood swings | Hair loss, poor growth | Impaired memory, reduced attention |
This is by no means medical advice, but you might agree it is food for thought (pardon the pun). If this resonnates with you, our advice would be to see your GP to look into this further.
We hope the break was a wonderful time for you all to recharge and spend quality moments together. We are looingook forward to a fantastic term ahead, filled with new experiences and achievements.
Thanks for all your support,
Peggy McDonald & Steele Anderson
Deputy Principals